Polikarpov Po-2 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. On approach, at an altitude of about 250 metres, it collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh90, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board and just took off. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.

Probable cause:

The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh90

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Balashov - Balashov

MSN:

3853

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

118

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. After takeoff, the pilot made a left turn then climbed to the altitude of about 250 metres when the aircraft collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh480, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.

Probable cause:

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Michurinsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1933 at 0610 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh566

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Michurinsk - Michurinsk

MSN:

3050

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

485

Aircraft flight cycles:

2572

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Michurinsk Airport on a local solo training flight. While flying at an altitude of about 700-750 metres, he initiated manoeuvres when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot suffered a loss of orientation (spatial disorientation) due to his inexperience.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Nizhne Volzhsky: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1933 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A196

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nizhne Volzhsky - Nizhne Volzhsky

MSN:

3434

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

105

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

Following several crop spraying flights during the day, the pilot elected to make a test flight with a mechanic before the aircraft would be transferred to Kotelnikovo. After takeoff, the pilot continued at a height of about 100-150 metres then completed some turns before the aircraft started to descent. While turning at an angle of 40-45°, the airplane lost height and crashed nose first. Both occupants were seriously injured and the pilot died from his injuries less than an hour later.

Probable cause:

The pilot initiated an unauthorized test flight and completed sharp turns at a too low altitude and insufficient speed, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Russia

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N5

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Russia. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in April 1932.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Tambov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1932 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tambov - Tambov

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (one instructor and one cadet) departed Tambov for a local training flight. While flying on its back at an altitude of 800 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the runway. Both occupants were killed.